Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1029119
V O L . X X I V N O. X X I G I V I N G G U I D E 2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9 10 T he #metoo movement came to Maine in January 2018 when a co-founder of business accelerator Venture Hall admitted to inappropri- ate behavior toward female colleagues, prompting the organization to cease operations. Less than three months later, a former designer for Maine Media Collective alleged that the company's former owner and publisher had made unwanted sexual advances while she was an employee in 2010. Both cases — along with a domestic violence assault guilty plea by a well- known concert promoter — have sparked a widespread and candid discussion among business and nonprofi t leaders about how best to ensure safe, respectful and gender-inclusive workplaces. " e #metoo movement has moved sexual harassment from a matter of HR compliance to the CEO's desk," says Betsy Peters, CEO of business consulting fi rm 230 Trees and a founding member and chief instigator of MaineCanDo, a professional network behind an online resource portal (www.mecando.org) to help individuals, employers and inves- tors prevent future #metoo incidents. " ey need to deal with it from a cul- tural perspective because there's now a strategic imperative." While some employers are respond- ing by reexamining and in some cases tweaking policies on sexual harassment and discrimination, others have signed the online MaineCanDo pledge and downloaded tools created by lawyers and other experts ranging from model sexual harassment policies to compliance checklists, training resources and guid- ance on harassment investigations. As of early September, more than 350 individuals, non-profi t groups and companies had signed the pledge. Signees range from small businesses and non-profi ts across the state to UNUM, the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Fortune 500 insurer with a strong presence in Portland and — as of early September — the largest company to take part. Respectful, harassment-free workplaces Endorsing the MaineCanDo pledge is a promise to foster respectful and harassment-free workplaces. It entails a commitment to review workplace harassment policies in light of #metoo and audit how they work in prac- tice; put appropriate and safe mechanisms in place to report, measure and track complaints; and designate go-to mem- bers in organizational leadership who will ensure grievances are taken seriously, investigated fully and resolved quickly. "Were not a watchdog group," emphasizes Peters. "But what I can tell you about traffi c to the site is that people are downloading the tools," including sample sexual harassment policies geared to non-profi ts, small businesses and start-ups. ere's also a checklist for board members and investors, who can set the tone and be on the lookout for organizational cultures that put their investments of time, talent, or funding at risk, accord- ing to MaineCanDo. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY In the wake of #metoo How employers are reinforcing values B Y R E N E E C O R D E S Betsy Peters, CEO of the consulting fi rm 230Trees, is a founding member of and chief instigator at MaineCanDo, a professional network and online resource to help individuals, employers and investors prevent future #metoo incidents.